Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21,762, Abraham Fuller, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER .
Fuller, Abraham
8, 21, 762
CONTENTS

Memor
No. 681
Dea
William Fuller of Caledonia in the State of Vermont who was a S t in the Company commanded by Captain Carpenter of the 1 st Reg t commanded by Col. Morgan in the 1 st Brigade who for
paid at the Treasury under the Act of 6. April 1838 from 4. S. to 22 Dec 1838. Agent Notification 11. Dec 1844
3 M th P er 11. 00 9 " P er 30 $ 41. 00
Inscribed on the Roll of P er ment at the rate of 41 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 1 th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 4 th day of June 1833 and sent to Amos Paul, Canineville Vt
Arrears to the 1 th of March 1833 82.00 Femi-ant. allowance existing 4 Sept. 20.50
$ 102.50
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. D. Sprague Clerk Book E Vol. 3 Page 64

Abraham Fuller's Declaration
205/2

State of Vermont } ss. (District & County of Caledonia)
On this fourth day of September A. D. 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Hon. Benjamin H. Dunning Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Caledonia aforesaid now sitting. Abraham Fuller a resident of St. Johnsbury in the County and District aforesaid aged seventy two years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision of the act of Congress passed June 4. 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated, viz:
That in the month of June or July 1777 at Munson in the State of Massachusetts his then place of residence he entered the service of the United States for the term of six months in the Massachusetts militia or State troops for the purpose of guarding the military stores at Springfield Stores at which place he was stationed in the Company of Captain Gideon Burt of Longmeadow, Lt Aaron Mitchell of Springfield and Ensign Solomon Brewer of Springfield that he served the full term of his engagement at said Springfield as a private in said Company he sometimes practiced on the fife, but was not the fifer in the Company there was no other Company stationed there at that time so far as he recollects.
That in the summer of 1779 and he thinks in the month of June at said Munson he entered the service for the term of three months for the purpose of guarding the public stores at said Springfield and was there stationed for the whole of said term in the Company

That in the summer of the year 1780 and as he thinks in the month of June he entered the service of the United States for the term of three months, served as a fifer in the company of Col. Manning of Brimfield D. P. Warner or Warner of Wilbraham formerly Spring- field in the Reg't of Col. Mearsey of Hatfield Ruben Merrill of New Britain P. Col. or Major. Marched to West Point N. York and there served the said term of three months. He was at West Point at the time of the treasonable attempt of Genl. Arnold - was dis- charged at West Point as he thinks in the latter part of Sept. 1780.
Was born in the year 1760 and lived in Meriden Mass. from early childhood but whether born there or at the adjoining town of Stafford Conn. he does know - has a record of his age in his family bible. He lived at the time he was called into the service in Meriden Mass. and there resided until the year 1802 when he removed to the adjoining town of Wilbraham. Lived there until 1822 when he removed to St. Johnsbury Vermont where he now resides - was never a substitute for any person. He does not re- collect that he was drafted - thinks there was a call for men and that he engaged with his cap- tain to go. Recollects that immediately after the escape of Genl. Arnold they were called out in the night and were stationed in a fort. Col. Mearsey Col. Reg't as he thinks came onto the Point that night and the next day a Brigade said to be Penn- sylvania troops came on to the Point.
Never had a written discharge - Has no documentary evidence and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his term of three months at Springfield in 1779
Abraham Fuller
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Before Benjamin F. Denning Judge of Probate

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that James Johnson who has signed the accompanying certificate is a clergyman resident in the town of St. Johnsbury aforesaid and that Luther Clark who has also signed the same is a resident of said St. Johnsbury and is a respectable magistrate and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Amos Paul Register of the Court of Probate for the District of Caledonia aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Abraham Fuller for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 8 th day of December A. D. 1832
Amos Paul Register

20612 Abraham Fuller
Admitted
3 mos Fifer 11. - 9 mos Private 30. - $41. -
Amos Paul Danville Vermont

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, showing the Service of Abraham Fuller of Caledonia County, Vermont
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     1777 6 Private Capt d Durst Capt d Stationed at Spring- field Mass. Manson Living witness   1779 3 " Carpenter None March to West Point Chussets   1780 3 Serf Browning Murray aged 72 years  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted: This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of _____ in the county of _____ and State, Territory or District of _____ aged (c) _____ years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I _____ of the Court of _____ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _____ day of _____ &c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C. D. residing in (the same) _____ hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the _____ and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the _____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, _____ Clerk of the Court of _____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____ &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. 
 6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? 
 7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons - one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] The declarant must state, with precision, the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months , is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
☞ The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

Provisions
21 762 INVALID.
File No. 21,762
St. John's N. H.
Rev. Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index: — Vol. 9 , Page 146
[Arrangement of 1870.]

I Stephen Fuller of Brimfield in the county of Hampden & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, of lawful age, testify and say, that in the summer of the year 1777, I think in June or July, my brother Asahel Fuller was drafted from the Militia company, in Monson to go on a tour of six months service at Springfield. (Mass) for the protection of the military stores at that place & that I went to Springfield at that time as a substitute for him & served out the time of six months, & that Abraham Fuller another brother of mine who now resides at St. Johnsbury in Vermont was with me at during the whole of said six months at Springfield; (that he was a fifer in the company to which we belonged.) that there was but one company stationed there & that our officers were, Capt. Gideon Burt of Longmeadow Lieut. Aaron Michells (pronounced Myels) of Brimfield & Ensign Solomon Brewer of Springfield; & that in the Spring or summer of the year 1780 said brother Abraham Fuller & I were both drafted from the Militia Company in Monson for three months service at West Point & that we both went there & staid that term of time in the service & we served in the Regiment commanded by Col. Murray of Holford, Mass. & that Reuben Munn of Monson was either Major or Lieut. Col. of the Regiment & Mr. - Warriner of Springfield was a Lieut in the company to which we belonged & that we were at West Point at the time Genl. Arnold's treason was discovered - and further the deponent saith not. (The words "in monson" & the word "There" were interlined before signing.) Stephen Fuller
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampden ss. August 4 th 1832
Then Stephen Fuller abovenamed personally appeared & made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him Subscribed before me Francis B. Stebbins, Justice of the peace

I also hereby certify that I am acquainted with the said Stephen Fuller who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing Deposition before me and that he sustains a good character for truth.
Francis B. Stebbins Justice of the peace.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampden ss. I John Ingersoll a Clerk of the Common Pleas Court being a Court of Record in the County of Hampden do hereby certify that Francis B. Stebbins Esq. before whom the within deposition was executed is a justice of the peace for the County of Hampden and that I believe his name thereto subscribed to be his true and proper signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Common Pleas Court at Springfield on this Eighth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
John Ingersoll Clerk.

We James Johnson a clergyman residing in the town of St. Johnsbury in the County of Caledonia and State of Vermont and Luther Clark attussee of the Peace for said Caledonia County residing in said St. Johnsbury do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Abraham Fuller of said St. Johnsbury who has as we understand made a declaration before the Probate Court for the District of Caledonia in order to obtain a pension, that we believe him to be seventy two years of age, that the said Abraham Fuller sustains a good character for truth and veracity, that we believe that he served in the revolutionary war as he states.
James Johnson Luther Clark -
Sworn to and subscribed by the above named James Johnson and Luther Clark this 12 th day of October A. D. 1832.
Before me Moses Kittredge Justice of Peace

State of Vermont Caledonia County ss ) I Benjamin H. Deming Clerk of the County Court for the County of Caledonia aforesaid do hereby certify that Moses Whitbridge before whom the within certificate was subscribed and sworn and was at the time thereof is a Justice of the Peace for said County of Caledonia and his name within written is his genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court this 8th day of Decem- ber A. D. 1832.
Benj H. Deming Clerk.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
18 th Nov r 1844.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," and the third section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pension agents, the Adm t of Abraham Tuller a Pensioner on the Roll of the Montpelier (V t ) Agency, at the rate of _____ 41 Dollars and _____ Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832 has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of September to the 22 nd Decem r . 1838.
Respectfully, yours,
William Lloyd
Comptroller.
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, Present.